Increased performance has arisen from a redesign of the firegrate when running on wood pellets. Air is drawn from the vertical feed and preheated as it is fed to the front of the grate where it travels under the fire and into the vortex chamber at the same time as air passes up through the pellets on the grate sustaining the burn. Grate is now 30mm above the floor and runs the whole length to the deflector or throatplate at the entrance to the vortex chamber.

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:51 am

thanks for the extra information and input goaix

any chance of some extra photos as well of the setup

and what temperatures have you got now mind if i ask but is that also using less pellets within your system

g0aix

Posts : 34Join date : 2015-03-15

Subject: Re: First build Fri Nov 20, 2015 11:38 pm

Gadily

Difficult to photograph changes as they are all internal but I will try when I have time and post the results here. 1000 deg F was achieved on 4 consecutive firings so fair to say that it is repeatable now but to achieve this temperature I am using more not less pellets. I control the heat of the stove by the quantity of wood pellets fed and have an insert for the feed tube that when in place restricts maximum temperature to about 850 def F on a reduced feed of pellets.

T2HAdmin

Posts : 908Join date : 2013-10-07

Subject: Re: First build Wed Nov 25, 2015 1:12 pm

If you know how to use sketchup you could do a drawing to show us if you cannot photo it.I got over a thousand degrees as well with mine when it was in action.

Too hot for mild steel, I had to throw a couple of pieces of steel in the corner of the elbow to suck up some of the heat to keep the steel from going cheery red.

g0aix

Posts : 34Join date : 2015-03-15

Subject: Re: First build Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:26 pm

I have noticed too that when using wood and therefore no grate, the temp at the corner of the elbow reaches over 1000 deg whilst the temp at the top of the riser tube is less at about 800 deg. On the other hand when using wood pellets and a grate, the opposite is true. The elbow temp rarely goes above 700 deg but the temp at the top of the riser is 1000+ deg. Can't explain this - anybody got any ideas - my thoughts are that it is due to airflow which is more efficient in the wood pellet configuration using a grate.

ROACH

Posts : 129Join date : 2014-12-27Age : 57Location : salem oregon

Subject: first build Fri Nov 27, 2015 1:55 am

ok to let every one know my expaned metal grate center tube witch was working great failed burned out in the center of the tube any one know if you can stainless grate tube would work better the rest of the grate was ok and do they make stainless flux core wire, the pellets have less moisture and less ash content is will gasify better where chunck wood has more of everything

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Sat Dec 05, 2015 7:16 am

while i remember this post

ive got titanium bars for my build for the grate wasnt too bad on price so considered it for this build

stainless steel is better than steel cast iron should be even better dont know what the difference would be with titanium for the bars would do with the system

im also considering building one of these

so at last it looks like me would be needing advice from you guys

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:23 am

roach, G0aix you guys have run the pellet systems a query here

how have you gone on with the pellets and the ash within your systems have you had to clean them out at all so far and where was the ash deposited the most

im a little concerned that they might be a build of pellet ash up to the riser tube and past the riser tube that could cause a blockage reducing the efficiency of the system when left on for extended times

as im just about to make a cast for this system but im using 3,1/2" for the inner chamber

ROACH

Posts : 129Join date : 2014-12-27Age : 57Location : salem oregon

Subject: First build Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:33 pm

hey gladly, the only problem with the ash was my grate would plug over time just have to shake the grate to would go back to normal for another 6 hours the most of the ash would go down into the ash bin have not plugged up any thing yet but i not used it in two weeks i have been moving to a another house

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Sat Feb 20, 2016 4:57 am

tonight i will be doing 2 forms with perlight and refractory cement

the form for this one is here

im curious to see the outcome using a form with a pellet stove so decided to make one for a small version of it next part is to make the surround and i will be adding ppottys air circulaters

im also considering the pellets side for this system but im looking for the longest time that i can gain with a 15kg bag of pellets

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Sat Feb 20, 2016 8:29 am

heres the form refractory cemented

small one should be fine its only 16" high x 3 1/2" vortex the entrance is also 3 1/2" as well

ROACH

Posts : 129Join date : 2014-12-27Age : 57Location : salem oregon

Subject: first build Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:52 pm

looks great so far lots of left i am closer to being done moving then it will be time to get the electrial done on my shed so i can get back to work it will be in june i hope still a lot of work to do yet

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Sun Feb 21, 2016 2:11 am

secondary hole predrilled after 17hrs after being made up and i know it bulged down in middle I dont mind it due grinding it off when solid

T2HAdmin

Posts : 908Join date : 2013-10-07

Subject: Re: First build Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:14 pm

Looks pretty darn good gadily!Right on man, I am glad to see you still experimenting.

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:28 am

stripped down now

secondary air inlet

T2HAdmin

Posts : 908Join date : 2013-10-07

Subject: Re: First build Wed Feb 24, 2016 4:16 pm

Looks good!

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:18 am

3 1/2" internal vortex

ROACH

Posts : 129Join date : 2014-12-27Age : 57Location : salem oregon

Subject: re: first build Thu Feb 25, 2016 3:32 pm

nice vortex what now? are you going to add to it

gadilyModerator

Posts : 1435Join date : 2013-12-08

Subject: Re: First build Fri Feb 26, 2016 11:50 am

yes i am roach ive already built the frame and also the heat exchanger

need you to pm us though if you would do

im looking at a dual system on this one but also in seperate parts

where both pellets and sticks can be fired at the same time but only one side can be open to be fed fresh incoming preheated air

im putting my design where my mouth is this time all that ive suggested im building into this one

I would also like goaix to pm us as well sorry its the only way i can talk to you